The Bulls shot 59% and lived in the paint to the tune of 58 points in sending the Pistons to their fifth loss in six games.

The Pistons (34-38) are 1½ games behind the Miami Heat for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot, but when you throw in Tuesday night’s embarrassing last-second loss at the Brooklyn Nets, you can’t blame fans for starting to ponder the NBA draft lottery in May

Smith was hindered by foul trouble and finished with nine points and seven assists in 26 minutes. Jackson came off the bench and finished six points and four assists.

But it didn’t matter who was point guard with the Pistons’ imitation of drill cones on defense.

“I think it gets in your head a little bit (when you don’t make shots),” Jackson said. “But you have to have a short-term memory. Same thing I said last game – we need to shoot our shots. We have to be confident.”

It’s obvious Jackson’s confidence has cratered.

Lineups with Smith have outperformed Jackson’s most of the season since Jackson returned after missing the first 21 games with left knee tendinitis.

“I believe I’m a starter in this league, I definitely do, but at the same time, I’m a ball player,” Jackson said. “As long as I’m on the court, I’m going to enjoy playing ball and enjoying going out there and competing all I can to help my team win.”

As Van Gundy has been quick to point out, the problems go beyond one position.

Bulls star Jimmy Butler was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from the line to finish with 16 points.

The Bulls (34-38), who tied the Pistons for ninth, were 11-for-23 from three-point range. They are the worst three-point shooting time in the league.

Van Gundy was non-committal on if he would stick with Smith in the starting lineup.

“Man, it’s not just one position,” Van Gundy said. “We’re just not playing. It was just bad all the way around.”

CLOSE

After coming off the bench in favor of Ish Smith during the Pistons' 117-95 loss to the Bulls, Reggie Jackson says 'we have to fight for each other' and improve effort on both ends of the floor Wednesday, March 22. Video by Vince Ellis, DFP.
Videolicious

The swap didn’t make much difference in the beginning.

The lifeless Pistons were quickly down by six at 19-13 when Smith picked up his second foul.

Jackson came in and played for the next nine minutes.

It was uneven stretch. Jackson was 1-for-6 from the field, but did have three assists.

The Pistons trailed by 12 when he left at the 6:41 mark.

The Pistons trailed by as much as 13 points in the second quarter, but Stanley Johnson’s eight points kept things close.

Smith’s driving lay-up with 1:02 remaining in the first half cut the deficit to two, but Lauvergne and Mirotic lay-ups gave the Bulls a 59-53 lead at halftime.